EnRoute

Technology Trends

Keller-Soft Safety Incentives & Awards Tracker, is a software program introduced by J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc. that is designed to help users develop, manage and report on driver bonus and awards programs. FULL STORY
Workhorse Custom Chassis launched a new walk-in truck, the W62, with a chassis by Workhorse and body by either Morgan Olson or Utilimaster. FULL STORY
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC has developed the Bendix TABS-6 Stability System for trailers which offers a high-performance electronic stability technology specifically designed for a broad range of trailer types and configurations. FULL STORY
Eaton Corp. and Peterbilt Motor Co. are collaborating to produce an aerodynamic heavy-duty vehicle with hybrid capabilities for Wal-Mart Stores Inc. FULL STORY

Briefly

Penske Logistics is the recipient of Merck & Co., Inc.’s 2006 Sector Operational Award, recognizing its ability to drive cost reductions by optimizing Merck’s regular European ground transportation. . .Comdata Corp. has announced it has acquired Inter-Tax, Inc., a leading provider of paperless fuel tax services. . .The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is offering four college students, who represent each of the semifinalist schools in this year’s men’s division I college basketball tournament, the opportunity for a world record basketball shot that will be taken 500 feet in the air aboard the Goodyear blimp. Each contestant will “shoot” a regulation basketball at the hoop measuring 100 feet in diameter. . .SkyBitz has announced the addition of seven customers that are deploying its tracking solutions, bringing the total to more than 320 fleets. . .Fleet One, LLC has formed an agreement with VehiCare to accept Fleet One local cards for fleet maintenance services. . .Manheim increased its operations in Europe by acquiring a pair of auction houses in Portugal. . .PACCAR and Major League Baseball’s Seattle Mariners have created a new multi-year partnership for literacy and education called the Page Ahead program. The PACCAR Foundation will donate $100 to Page Ahead for each run batted in by a Mariner player during the season and will also sponsor three book drives at Safeco Field in Seattle to collect new children’s books for donation to Page Ahead. . .PeopleNet reported that it signed 197 new fleet customers during 2006, a record for the company. . .Rush Enterprises, Inc. has acquired Advanced Transportation Insurance Services of Laguna Nigel, CA and Allen-Jensen Inc. in Waco, TX. . .To read more news about TRALA members, please click here.

People on the Move

AmeriQuest Transportation and Logistics Resources has promoted Dale Tower to vice president of remarketing services. . .U-Haul International has promoted Michael Hemsen to president of the U-Haul Company of Alabama. . .Al Miller, a former employee of Johnson Truck Bodies, has returned after being away from the company for 15 months, and will now be working in a newly created position as national sales manager. . .Ruan Transport Corp. has named Christopher Czerwinski as terminal manager of the Ruan team in South Gate, CA. . .Curt Hutchins has been named vice president and president of Eaton’s Heavy Duty Transmission Division. . .Key Equipment Finance has named Kevin Libert as vice president and business development manager and Kenneth Turner as senior vice president of sales for its bank and middle-market segment. . .Walt Seaman, vice president for Hertz Rent-A-Car has retired. . .Jost International has tapped Al Anderson for the newly-created position of director of national fleet accounts. . .Goodyear’s North American Tire Unit has appointed Richard Kramer as president, Darren Wells as senior vice president of finance and strategy and Damon Audia as the company’s vice president and treasurer. . .Donald Devitt has become a shareholder in the law firm Scopelitis, Garvin, Light & Hanson, P.C.. . .Rush Enterprises, Inc. has promoted Steven Keller to vice president and chief financial officer and Martin Naegelin to executive vice president. . .Tom Rawson, CEO of RKI Inc., was installed as the 43rd president of the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) during their annual meeting in Indianapolis.

Taking $tock

A look at truck transportation-industry Fortune 500 public companies:

Company	Symbol (Click for Chart)	03/27 Close	Two Week Performance
ArvinMeritor	ARM	$18.18	$0.16	0.87%
Avis Budget Group Inc.	CAR	$27.55	$0.11	0.40%
Caterpillar Inc.	CAT	$66.88	$0.04	0.06%
Con-way Inc.	CNW	$50.29	$0.57	1.12%
Cummins Inc.	CMI	$145.87	$0.57	1.12%
Eaton	ETN	$84.04	$1.05	1.23%
General Electric	GE	$35.79	$0.21	0.58%
PACCAR Inc.	PCAR	$62.99	$2.37	3.14%
Ryder	R	$49.32	$0.45	0.90%

SOURCE: Yahoo! Finance and bigcharts.com

Money Matters

As the U.S. economy stabilizes, Barron’s is reporting that Ryder System Inc. stock could break the $60 range. FULL STORY
The Carlyle Group has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s Engineered Products Division in an all-cash transaction valued at $1.475 billion. FULL STORY
Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. made a profit on record in the first quarter since going public in November 2005. The company recorded a net income of $39.8 million for the three months ending December 31, 2006. FULL STORY
GE Capital Solutions and the Blackstone Group have agreed to acquire PHH Corporation in an all-cash transaction for $1.8 billion. FULL STORY

News From TRALA

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